METHOD FOR REPAIRING A SLIDING CAP ON A VESSEL CONTAINING MELTED METAL, AND A SLIDING CAP

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for repairing a sliding closure on a vessel containing molten metal, which has a housing, a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, a holder, a linear drive insertable therein for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electrical and / or a connecting line for a medium, such as gas or air, wherein the linear drive can preferably be inserted and / or removed by a robot, and that the connection of the at least one electrical and / or the connecting line for the medium is effected by a plug-in process, as well as a sliding closure.

[0002] A known sliding closure according to EP-A-3 424 618 is provided with a slide housing, a longitudinally guided slide unit with a push rod, a bracket, and a linear drive with a drive rod removably mounted in the latter. This drive rod can be connected to the push rod of the slide unit by a coupling, which couples the slide unit when the linear drive is inserted into the bracket by sliding the drive rod against it. When the linear drive is removed from the bracket, the coupling disengages transversely to the direction of displacement of the drive rod.

[0003] The document CN 110394621 discloses an assembly and disassembly system for servicing a sliding closure, in which system an assembly seat with retaining grooves and a cylinder unit insertable into this are provided for adjusting a slide, wherein the cylinder unit is gripped by a clamping device of a robot and insertable into the retaining grooves of the assembly seat. Furthermore, a plug connection for connecting cables is arranged on the one hand at the rear in the assembly seat and on the other hand at the front below the cylinder unit, which can be plugged together using a pressure lever after the cylinder unit has been installed. This pressure lever is also located below the cylinder unit and is movably attached to it. It can be moved by an adjustment drive corresponding to the clamping device of the robot. This plugging and unpluggingHowever, loosening the plug connection is a complex process and is vulnerable to manipulation because, if the pressure lever or the adjustment drive is operated improperly, it can hit something and be damaged due to its protruding arrangement.

[0004] When repairing the sliding gate prior to pouring, for example, from a ladle on a casting platform in a continuous casting plant, in addition to coupling the hydraulic cylinder as a linear drive, at least one electrical line and / or connecting lines conveying media, such as gas or air, must be connected to supply sources off the platform. This is usually done by manually plugging the connecting lines on the casting platform at the sliding gate.

[0005] US 2005 / 242094 A1 discloses cables used to drive the hydraulic unit and are not pluggable. Although the other cables are referred to as electrical cables, there is no indication anywhere that they are connected by a plug-in process, nor that this plugging and / or unplugging should occur when inserting or removing the linear actuator.

[0006] EP 2 039 445 A1 discloses a sliding device for automatically applying surface pressure. It consists of a fixed plate arranged in a base frame and firmly attached to the bottom of a vessel for molten metal. A sliding housing with a sliding plate is arranged below the fixed plate and can be moved by means of an actuator. However, no connecting lines for this hot water supply are disclosed.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of creating a method for the repair of a sliding closure, in which improved handling for the assembly of the linear drive and the connection of plug connections for at least one electrical and / or one line connection for the supply of media, such as gas or air, is made possible in a structurally simple manner, wherein this should preferably be designed for execution by means of a robot or manipulator.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one electrical plug part and / or at least one valve plug part for the medium of the at least one connecting line are assigned to the linear drive and the holder in pairs, such that the plugging of the at least one connecting line takes place automatically when the linear drive is pushed into the holder and / or the release takes place automatically when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

[0009] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a sliding closure for the method, wherein at least one electrical plug part and / or at least one valve plug part for the medium of the at least one connecting line are assigned to the linear drive and the holder in pairs, such that these are automatically inserted when the linear drive is inserted into the holder and thus cause the connection of the respective connecting line or are automatically released when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

[0010] The at least one electrical connection line and / or the connection line for the medium are preferably connected to at least one power source by plugging in the connection. The at least one connection line is preferably connected to an external power, gas, or air pressure source. An electrical connection line can provide a power supply for at least one consumer unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag detection or for inductive heating or the like. A connection line for a medium can be used to gas-tighten the flowing molten metal or to cool mechanical components and / or refractory parts in the sliding closure.

[0011] This plugging of at least one connecting cable with the insertion of the linear drive into the holder and / or the release with the removal of the same from the holder takes place automatically.

[0012] This makes handling considerably easier, particularly when repairing the sliding closure with a robot, and at the same time increases process stability and operational safety during pouring.

[0013] With a sliding closure, it is very advantageous to assign at least one electrical plug component and / or at least one valve plug component for the medium of the at least one connecting cable to the linear actuator and the bracket in pairs. This allows these to be automatically plugged in when the linear actuator is inserted into the bracket, thus connecting the respective connecting cable, and / or to be automatically released when the linear actuator is removed from the bracket.

[0014] Conveniently, the linear drive is preferably inserted and / or removed from the holder transversely to its adjustment direction. This transverse insertion provides excellent accessibility for handling due to the space available on the casting platform. The connecting cables are inserted in the same direction as the linear drive is inserted into the holder, and / or the connecting cables are removed in the same direction as the linear drive is removed from the holder. Preferably, the insertion and removal of at least one connecting cable takes place synchronously in opposite directions.

[0015] For a sliding closure of a vessel containing molten metal, wherein the sliding closure has a housing, a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, a holder, a linear drive insertable therein for adjusting the slide unit, and at least one connecting line, the connecting line being provided for an electrical contact or a liquid or gaseous medium, wherein the linear drive can preferably be inserted and / or removed by a robot, for repair a connection of the at least one connecting line takes place by a plugging process, wherein this plugging of the at least one connecting line takes place automatically when the linear drive is inserted into the holder and / or the detachment of the at least one connecting line takes place automatically when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

[0016] The invention and further advantages thereof are explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a holder and a linear drive that can be accommodated in it before the repair of the indicated sliding closure; Fig. 2 the holder and the linear drive according to Fig. 1 in an opposite perspective view; Fig. 3 a perspective view or a section of the guide means when inserting the linear drive into the holder; Fig. 4 the perspective view or the section of the guide means according to Fig. 3 when the linear drive is inserted into the holder; Fig. 5 a view with a section of the electrical connector parts when inserting the linear drive into the holder; and Fig. 6 the view with the section according to Fig. 5 of the electrical plug parts when the linear actuator is inserted into the holder.

[0017] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a holder 15 and a linear drive 12 of an indicated sliding closure 10 which can be inserted laterally into this holder, with a slide housing 11 and a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, of which only a push rod 13 projecting into the holder 15 is visible.

[0018] Such a sliding closure 10 is known in its construction and operation and therefore will not be described in further detail. It is preferably suitable for a ladle containing molten steel as a vessel in a continuous casting plant. In principle, however, it could also be used at the spout of other vessels, such as a converter, a tundish, or even furnaces in the non-ferrous metals sector.

[0019] Particularly when the vessel is designed as a ladle, the linear drive 12 is typically only inserted into this holder 15 and coupled after the ladle filled with molten metal has been placed on a rotating turret on a casting platform of the continuous casting plant. This is preferably done by a robot arranged on the casting platform, which automatically determines the exact position of the holder 15 of the sliding closure 10 using a detection system that can be mounted thereon. It then grasps the linear drive 12, designed as a hydraulic piston / cylinder unit, from a storage location using a suitable gripping tool, guides it to the sliding closure 10, and inserts it into the holder 15. When removing the latter, the process is reversed.

[0020] After the linear actuator 12 is inserted, its drive rod 12' is coupled to the push rod 13 of the slide unit. This is conveniently done automatically by sliding a pincer-shaped coupling head 14 at the front of the drive rod 12' against the coaxially arranged push rod 13 of the slide unit. By means of pivoting clamping jaws 14', the coupling head is slipped over the coupling flange 13' at the end of the push rod 13, engaging it positively and / or non-positively. A sliding closure with such a coupling is disclosed in EP 0 875 320 B1, and therefore no further details are explained.

[0021] As mentioned above, at least one electrical connection line and / or connection cable for media, such as gas, air, or the like, is normally required for operation during pouring. The at least one electrical connection line 16 provides a power supply for at least one consumer unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag detection or for inductive heating or the like. The connection lines 17, 18 for the media are typically used to gas-tighten the flowing molten metal or to cool the mechanical components or refractory parts in the sliding closure. These connection lines 16, 17, 18 are connected to an external power, gas, or air pressure source with associated control devices and are coupled to the sliding closure 10 for maintenance by plugging and unplugging operations on the casting platform.

[0022] With the inventive method for repairing the sliding closure 10 for the subsequent pouring of the melt from the ladle, this plugging process of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 occurs automatically when the linear drive 12 is inserted into the holder 15, or when it is released, when it is removed from the holder 15. This significantly simplifies handling, particularly when repairing the sliding closure 10 with a robot, and this method simultaneously increases the process stability for automated pouring.

[0023] The linear actuator 12 is inserted into or removed from the holder transversely to the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12'. The connecting cables 16, 17, 18 are inserted in the same direction as the linear actuator 12 is inserted into the holder, and the connecting cables 16, 17, 18 are removed in the same direction as the linear actuator is removed from the holder. The insertion and removal of at least one connecting cable 16, 17, 18 preferably occurs in opposite directions. Advantageously, the connecting cables are first centered during the insertion process and then moved into the plugged-in position.

[0024] Conveniently, the linear drive 12 and the holder 15 are each provided with at least one guide means configured such that the linear drive 12 can be inserted transversely into the holder 15 or removed therefrom. The guide means for the linear drive 12 is located at the front, where its drive rod 12' is located, and the guide means for the holder 15 is located at the rear, at the free-standing end.

[0025] These guide means are preferably designed as an approximately rectangular flange 22 in the linear drive 12 and as corresponding guide grooves 25' in a C-shaped receiving part 25 in the holder 15. This flange 22 can be pushed in and out of these parallel, superimposed guide grooves 25' of the receiving part 25 and is held in a form-fitting manner during the casting process. For this purpose, the guide grooves 25' are arranged at an inward angle of several degrees to the horizontal. This ensures that the linear drive remains securely in the holder without the need for an actuatable locking device. Furthermore, the flange 22 of the linear drive 12 also has a laterally extending holding element 20, which can be grasped by the gripping tool of the robot. The linear drive 12 can also be carried manually.

[0026] The connecting lines 16, 17, 18 are routed at the front, laterally, near the bracket 15 toward the sliding closure 10, and at the rear, near the linear drive 12, designed as a cylinder 19. The bracket 15 is designed with a wall 15' on one long side, along which the connecting lines are routed, and is open on the other long side so that the drive rod 12' with the coupling head 14 can be inserted therein. From the linear drive 12, these connecting lines are bundled and routed to these external supply sources through a sleeve 21 projecting from the rear of the cylinder 19 and at least one hose (not shown in detail). This provides a further advantage of compact, secure routing of these connecting lines 16, 17, 18.

[0027] As from Fig. 3 to Fig. 6According to the invention, an electrical plug part 26, 36 and two valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 for the medium of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 are assigned to the linear drive 12 and the holder 15 in pairs, in such a way that these are automatically plugged in when the linear drive 12 is pushed into the holder 15 and thus bring about the connection of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 or the same are automatically released from the holder when the linear drive 12 is removed.

[0028] The one electrical plug part 26 is arranged above the cylinder 19 and the corresponding plug part 36 is arranged free-standing laterally above the receiving part 25 at the holder 15, while the valve plug parts 27, 28 for the medium protrude at the front of this flange 22 and the two corresponding valve plug parts 37, 38 are fastened inside the receiving part 25, so that the plug parts 26, 36 and the valve plug parts 27, 28 37, 38 are inserted into one another when the flange 22 is pushed into these guide grooves 25' in the receiving part 25.

[0029] Preferably, a centering means is provided between these valve plug parts 27, 28 at the flange 22 and on the inside of the receiving part 25 for the prior centering of the paired valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 during insertion. On the one hand, a protruding centering pin 29 is arranged on the flange 22, and on the other hand, a receiving sleeve 29' is arranged in the receiving part 25 as a centering means. The centering pin 29, which is almost pointed at the front, is longer than the valve plug parts 27, 28, so that when the flange 22 is inserted, it enters the receiving sleeve 29' before the valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are pushed into one another. The valve plug parts 37, 38 with the receiving sleeve 29' are advantageously held in a plate-shaped device 34 which is mounted in the holder 15 transversely to its longitudinal extent in order to compensate for deviations from the valve plug parts 27, 28 at the flange 22.This ensures that this plugging process can be carried out flawlessly and within steel mill-compliant tolerances.

[0030] According to Fig. 3 The flange 22, which is also provided with bevels 22' on the front side as a centering aid, is inserted into the guide grooves 25' of the receiving part 25. First, the centering pin 29 enters this receiving sleeve 29', so that upon further insertion, the valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are already pre-centered relative to one another. The valve plug parts consist of known sleeve and closing elements with seals, which are not explained in detail.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows the flange 22 in the final position in the receiving part 25, in which the valve plug parts and the centering means are inserted.

[0032] Also visible is a latch lever 24 of a latch mechanism 23, which ensures automatic transport locking. Also shown is a plug-in stroke limiting pin 33, which engages in a longitudinal groove in the push rod 13 to serve as a stop for the stroke of the latter.

[0033] In Fig. 5 and Fig. 6The two positions of the electrical plug parts 26, 36 are illustrated when the flange 22 is inserted and in the final position in the receiving part 25. One plug part 26 contains a socket 31, while the corresponding plug pins 37 protrude from the other plug part 36. Centering via this centering pin 29 in the receiving sleeve 29 also centers these plug parts 26, 36. Advantageously, however, one plug part 26 is mounted on the cylinder 12' in a limitedly articulated or floating manner by means of an indicated device 39, so that it can compensate for inaccuracies during the plugging process. Furthermore, a hinged cover 32 is preferably provided on the plug part 36, by means of which the opening in this plug part is closed when unplugged in order to prevent contamination therein.

[0034] As a further advantage, the connecting lines 17, 18 are arranged laterally at the flange 22 next to the cylinder 19 on the side near the valve plug parts 27, 28 placed at the front of the flange 22, to which they are connected.

[0035] Both these electrical plug parts 26, 36 and the valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are also designed in pairs such that they each reach the plugged-in state before the flange 22 reaches its final position in the holder 15 and remain in the plugged-in state for the remaining insertion distance. This has the advantage that if the flange cannot be inserted into its final position due to contamination or similar, the electrical or media connection is still established over a certain distance of, for example, 10 to 15 millimeters before the final position.

[0036] The invention is sufficiently illustrated by the exemplary embodiments explained above. However, it could be further explained by further variants.

[0037] Depending on requirements, only one connecting line, be it electrical or for a medium, or more than three, can be provided. The plug parts 26, 36 for the electrical connecting line could also be arranged, like the valve plug parts, laterally on the flange or inside the receiving part, where such a connection line and at least one valve plug part could also be provided. Conversely, the valve plug parts could be arranged above the cylinder 19, like the plug parts.

[0038] These guide means, which are flange 22 in the linear drive 12 and corresponding guide grooves 25' in a C-shaped receiving part 25 in the bracket 15, could be designed differently, for example, the guide grooves could be formed in the flange 22 and the receiving part 25 could engage in them. As mentioned, a hydraulic piston / cylinder unit is typically used in the linear drive 12, but it could also be an electric drive.

[0039] Theoretically, the guide means and thus the insertion direction of the linear drive 12 and the plugging process could be inserted or removed from the holder, for example, in the adjustment direction, or from bottom to top instead of from the side, instead of transversely to the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12'. The guide means and the plug parts or valve plug parts would then have to be arranged accordingly so that, according to the invention, this insertion of the at least one connecting cable can occur automatically when the linear drive is inserted into the holder, or the release can occur automatically when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

Claims

1. Method for the maintaining of a slide gate (10) of a vessel containing a metal melt, which comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in the housing, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be inserted into this for the adjustment of the slide unit, at least one electrical line and / or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air, wherein the linear drive (12) can preferably be moved in and / or taken out by a robot, wherein a connection of the at least one electrical line and / or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place by a plugging action, wherein assigned in each case to the linear drive (12) and to the holding element (15), in pairs, are at least one electrical plug component (26, 36) and / or in each case at least one valve plug component (27, 28, 37, 38) for the medium of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18), characterized in that the plugging action of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically with the movement of the linear drive (12) into the holding element (15), and / or the detachment of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically when removed the linear drive (12) from the holding element (15).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the linear drive (12) can be inserted into the holding element (15) and / or removed from the holding element transverse to its adjustment direction.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plugging of the connection lines (16, 17, 18) take place in the same direction like with the movement of the linear drive (12) into the holding element and / or the disconnection of the connection lines (16, 17, 18) take place in the same direction like with the detachment of the linear drive (12) from the holding element.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein respectively the plugging and the disconnection of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) take place in the opposite direction.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein during the plugging action of the at least one electrical line and / or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium, first a centring action takes place, and then the plugging action as far as into the end position.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one electrical connection line (16) for the power supply of at least one consuming unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag recognition or inductive heating, and the at least one connection line (17, 18) for the medium, such as gas or air, serves as a gas seal or for cooling or a similar purpose, wherein the respective connection line (16, 17, 18) is connected to an external electrical power, gas, or compressed air source.

7. Slide gate for a vessel containing a metal melt, which comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in the housing, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be inserted into this for the adjustment of the slide unit, at least one electrical line and / or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air, wherein the linear drive (12) can preferably be moved in and / or taken out by a robot, and the connection of the at least one electrical line and / or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place by a plugging action, wherein assigned in each case to the linear drive (12) and to the holding element (15), in pairs, are at least one electrical plug component (26, 36) and / or in each case at least one valve plug component (27, 28, 37, 38) for the medium of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18), characterized in that they are plugged in automatically when the linear drive (12) is moved into the holding element (15), and therefore create the connection of the respective connection line (16, 17, 18), and / or are automatically detached when the linear drive (12) is removed from the holding element (15) and accordingly the disconnection of the respective connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place.

8. Slide gate according to claim 7, wherein the linear drive (12) and the holding element (15) are in each case provided with at least one guide means, which interact in such a way, that the linear drive (12) can preferably be moved transversely into the holding element (15) and removed from it respectively, wherein the guide means are arranged so as to project on the front side at the linear drive (12), project at its drive rod (12'), and at the holding element (15) on the rear side by their freestanding end.

9. Slide gate according to claim 8, wherein the guide means are configured at the linear drive (12) as a flange (22), and the at least one valve plugging component (27, 28) for the medium extends laterally at this flange (22) in the insertion direction, while the guide means at the holding element (15) are configured as guide slots (25') and the at least one valve plugging component (27, 28) runs projecting between them, such that the valve plugging components (27, 28), corresponding in pairs, are plugged into one another when the flange (22) is moved into these guide slots (25').

10. Slide gate according to claim 9, wherein two valve plugging components (27, 28, 37, 38) are assigned to the flange (22) and two to the holding element (15), running parallel to one another, which in each case can be plugged in pairs, wherein preferably centring means are provided between these valve plugging components (27, 28, 37, 38) for centring the valve plugging components during the plugging action.

11. Slide gate according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the guide slots (25') are formed in a C-shaped receiver part (25) of the holding element (15), in the inside of which the valve plugging components (37, 38) and the centring means are secured.

12. Slide gate according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the at least one electrical plug component (26) is arranged above the linear drive (12) and the corresponding plug component (36) is arranged laterally above the receiver part (25) at the holding element (15), such that these two plug components (26, 36) are plugged together when the linear drive (12) is moved into the holding element (15).

13. Slide gate according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the at least one valve plug component (37, 38) and / or the one electrical plug component (26) are held in each case in a device (34, 39) mounted floating or on jointed bearings in the holding element (15) or at the linear drive (12) transverse to the longitudinal extension, in order to compensate for deviations in the corresponding valve plug components (27, 28) and / or the plug component (36).

14. Slide gate according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) are guided laterally at the holding element (15) towards the slide gate (10), and along the rear side at the linear drive (12), wherein they are bundled through at least one sleeve (21), projecting away on the rear side at the linear drive (12), and at least one hose, to the external electric power, gas, or compressed air sources.